Simon Gama
I would like to answer several questions about women and bodybuilders that people have asked me over the years.
It’s no secret that there has been an explosion of interest in weight training among women the past few years.
Today there are almost as many women pumping iron as there are men!
There are some physiological differences between men and women with regards to bodybuilding. In general, men are stronger than women and have a greater endurance, primarily because they have larger hearts and their blood has more oxygen carrying molecules.
Women are as strong in their legs as men when you consider their lower bodyweight.
Many men train hard with weights, while many women shy away from going all out in the mistaken belief that they might harm their bodies, or might make them appear masculine.
I have often been asked if weight training can be used by women, especially now that more and more women are taking up weight training and bodybuilding for women is becoming a popular and highly visible sport.
The answer to this question is an emphatic Yes! All you have to do is look at some of the great female bikini models, to see what I mean!
There is no doubt that men and women are different anatomically and physiologically. But in many ways, they share a common physiological system.
For example, women have basically the same complement of 600-plus skeletal muscles as men.
Those muscles need exercise to remain strong and healthy, and they respond to progressive resistance training by becoming firmer, stronger and in shape.
The only note of caution I have for any new student (man or woman) is not to do too much too soon, especially if you’re not used to strenuous exercise.
Remember this — progressive resistance weight training is geared to having you work to your limit — never beyond it.
Other than this caveat, a woman’s body is designed to flourish when exposed to the proper programme of exercise, recuperation and diet, the same as a man’s. And when you follow the weight system, you can look forward to achieving results!
Differences in the sexes taken into consideration by the training system: On the average, men are larger and stronger than women, maximum oxygen intake is larger in men; Men have greater endurance due to larger hearts and move haemoglobin, maximum oxygen intake is larger in men; on the average, women are more flexible than men; Women usually have higher pain thresholds than men; Men are proportionately stronger in their upper bodies; Women are proportionately stronger in their lower bodies.
Physical Examinations
To be perfectly safe, anyone who has been physically inactive for more than a year as well as anyone who is over 35 years should have a thorough physical examination before he or she starts a weight training programme.
Such an exam is intended to detect heart problems and other physical irregularities before they can cause you harm.
I also recommend an electrocardiogram for everyone over 40 who plans to begin weight training.
It’s vitally important that you follow the advice of your physician on weight training and other exercise.
You should follow your doctor’s advice even when it’s contrary to my own.
Your doctor has examined you. I haven’t. –Additional information from online sources.